I do not own Iron Man, Tony Stark, JARVIS, or Pepper Potts.

Tony woke up feeling warm, comfortable and sleepy. He was on his side in his large bed, his body half covered by sheets and pillows. He went to stretch, his muscles stiff from the way he was sleeping when he realized he couldn't. Two legs were tucked between his and a body was pressed firmly against his chest. His arm was draped across the smaller body, his fingers tangled in her red hair. However, despite the peaceful setting, he had a fierce headache, no doubt a hangover from last night.

He looked down at her content face on his chest and was suddenly extremely happy that today was a strict no working day. Her hair was slightly wild, strands hanging in her face and locks wrapped around his fingers. She wore a white t shirt and from the smooth feel of her legs, she also wore shorts. Her face was relaxed and free from the tension it sometimes held.

"I love you, Pep." He whispered, twirling her hair between his fingers. She sighed in his arms, but did not awaken. He sat there ready to fall back asleep, when he remembered what day it was and why Pepper was home instead of at work.

He gingerly untangled himself from Pepper's limbs and the bedsheets and when she didn't awaken, shot out the bedroom into the hallway. He slid across the kitchen floor and started to prepare things. What would he need? Eggs, eggs were good. Bread in the toaster. Hmm, coffee? No she only drank coffee on work day mornings. She preferred milk in the mornings when she was off. Bacon? No, he couldn't do bacon. Last time he tried, he'd burned a spatula mark into his hand. It was still a mystery to him how it happened, but Pepper said she'd found him like that on the floor. Tony shook his head, trying to keep his excited mind focused. Last but not least, pepper. As in the spice.

He only knew one way to make eggs and that was scrambled. It also possibly the only thing he knew how to make. He quickly cracked a few eggs without dropping shells into the bowl. Stir. Pour. Break up with a spatula (very carefully). Soon, he had scrambled eggs with pepper, buttered toast, and a glass of milk on a tray.

He carried it as fast as he could without spilling it back into their bedroom. He set it on the nightstand on Pepper's side and sat back on the bed with her. Then, he remembered his gift. He darted back out of the room and down into the workshop. He reached for the velvety box on his table-to find it was gone. He looked under the table and all around the workshop; soon he had torn the room apart searching. No where to be found.

Shit.

He felt disappointment and guilt set in. He was really excited that he'd remembered her gift, let alone the day itself. And now he couldn't give it to her and he didn't have a backup gift.

He traveled forlornly back up the stairs and to their bedroom. Pepper was sitting up now, drinking her glass of milk. She spotted him and pointed at the tray. "Did you make this?"

He nodded, forcing a smile. He walked over to the bed and wrapped his arms around her. "Happy birthday, Pepper Potts."

She let out a small gasp, as if she couldn't believe what he just said. He let go of their embrace and looked her in the eye. "And yes, I did remember a present, however, I seem to have misplaced it. So I'll get back to you on that."

Suddenly Pepper began to laugh. He grew slightly frustrated. "What? Please, if it is a joke, I need to know. What are you laughing about?"

Pepper didn't reply, but instead reached over into to his stand and opened the drawer. She removed a velvety box from it. Tony was paralyzed with shock. "But-but-"

"You were sleepwalking last night and put this in here." She explained to him. However, he was still downcast. She seemed to notice his crestfallen face, because she asked, "What's wrong?"

"I-I ruined your surprise."

Pepper sighed, smiling at him. "Come on, I still got a surprise. I didn't think you'd remember my birthday at all." She admitted. Tony crossed his arms over his chest. "You still don't have faith in me."

She slapped his chest, giving him a stern no-pouting face. She felt the fabric of the box beneath her fingers. "And I love the necklace by the way."

Tony seized the box from her and kept it outside her reach. "Uh-uh. I'm gonna hand you this very unsuspected present an you're going to be surprised."

Pepper groaned, but Tony didn't budge. "Fine, if it'll make you happy. Not like it's my birthday or any thing. . ."

"Close your eyes."

She slowly lowered her eyelids and held out her hands. Tony gingerly placed the present in her waiting hands and the petite fingers closed around the fabric.

She opened her eyes and looked at the present with the most pathetic fake shocked face ever. She opened the box slowly and withdrew the beautiful necklace. "Oh, Tony, you shouldn't have." She said in an even faker voice.

It'll have to do.

She leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips with a 'mwah' sound. "There? Are you happy?"

Tony placed his hands over his heart. "Why Pepper, it's not my day. Are you happy?" He asked dramatically.

Pepper nodded. "Good, because you'll be even happier to hear that we have reservations for lunch at your favorite restaurant and after that there may or may not be a surprise party on the Avenger floor."

She looked genuinely shocked this time. "Wait, really?" He nodded. She hugged him again and kissed his lips soundly. "Thank you, Mr. Stark."

"Anything, Ms. Potts."

They embraced for a while before Pepper decided to get dressed so they weren't late for their reservations. As she was picking out clothes, Tony called out, "Hey Pep?"

"Yeah?"

"If Cap asks what we had for lunch, tell him we had some fondue, alright?"

"Ummm. . .okay?"

"Don't worry about it, just say it."

Tony Stark was a indeed a superhero. A slightly narcissistic and argumentative man, but courageous and (usually) fought for the right reasons. The world knew him as Iron Man and the billionaire Tony Stark.

But there was a whole other side to him, the one that hated early risings, the one that had drunken dreams, the one that bedhogged and used to be haunted by nightmares, and the one that would someday be a fantastic rock ballad lullaby singer to little Tonys and Peppers.

It was the side only those closest to him knew, especially Pepper, who couldn't be happier to know the side that came when the cameras and people were gone, the part of him that came after the sun sets.

This chapter was kind of crappy, I apologize. I was running low on creativity because of school and what not. But there will be plenty other stories in the future such as:

The Cowboy in Me (one-shot)-Only guaranteed story at the moment. I'm working on a few ideas right now.